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Olympic College: PSNS Physics Site > pages > FAQ  

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FAQ

Site for apprentice program physics courses

 FAQs - Syllabus & Success Headlines

SURVIVAL SKILLS HEADLINES

  • Attend class & pay attention, take lecture notes, write in your book
  • Read the text before class
  • Fully participate in the experiments and analyses
  • Summarize lab and lecture immediately after class
  • Learn and use 5-Step problem solving method
  • Do the homework problems - if you have trouble, ask about problems in class
  • Participate in after hours sessions and do extra review problems

Syllabus - READ IT!

 

It is contained at the front of the textbook.  It tells you how to be successful in the class.  Each course's syllabus is a slight variation on a common theme.  Following are syllabus headlines:

  • OBJECTIVES:
    • Multi-level exposure to basic physics concepts
    • Mathematical skills
    • Laboratory techniques
    • Team learning/cooperation
    • Analytical thinking
    • Problem solving techniques - Five-step problem solving technique
    • Leadership skills
    • Effective oral/written communications
    • Self-study with assigned problems to solve
    • Develop self-confidence in his or her own abilities.
  • Specific content - refer to course textbook for your course (170, 171, 172 or 270)
  • Instruction:
    • Introductory subject lecture with experiment briefing.
    • Assigned self-study reading and problem set
    • Daily laboratory experiment demonstrating concept/law conducted by lab group with instructor supervision and guidance.
    • Experiment analysis by lab group extending observed results to other applications of the physics concepts.
    • Concluding lecture on concepts and applications.
    • Review of lab report by instructor with each lab group to reflect on and correct misunderstandings and reinforce what has been learned.
    • Test on the concepts/laws and applications covered.
    • Review of test individually with instructor to reflect on and correct misunderstandings while reinforcing what has been learned.
    • After hours instruction and individual tutoring available.
    • 15-20 laboratory experiments - problem-solving laboratories are included to teach and demonstrate the Five-step problem solving technique.
    • Make-up work in case of hardship only - see instructor
  • Assessment:  Periodic examinations (approximately weekly - open book), Daily lab experiments, Daily lab group analyses of experiment, Periodic group leadership/supervisory experience, Instructor review of each lab report, Instructor review supervisory grade, Instructor review of each test

ASSIGNMENTS:

  • Complete reading assignment before class
  • Do assigned and review problems.  Answers are provided.  If you are unable to get the correct answer, ask for clarification in the lecture class or during the lab period. 
  • If you need to brush up on your math skills you may want to attend after hours Monday and Wednesday in Building 466, the walk-in math/science lab opened Monday-Friday on campus or after hours sessions as announced.
  • Lab report must be turned in no later than the beginning of the next lab class.

Lab Grading:

 

Experiment performed and report turned in .... 4 points

Accuracy and completeness of experiment .... 2 "

Questions & problems completed correctly.... 3 "

Neatness................................................................ 1 "

.................................................................................10 points possible

 

QUARTER GRADE: We expect to have up to 16 experiments, in addition to the 3 introductory labs. The estimated point count is as follows:

3 introductory labs....... 30 points

16 labs x 10  ..................160 "

Supervisor grade.......... 60 "

3 tests x 50................... 150 "

final exam..................... 150 "

.......................................550 points total

Your grade will be determined by dividing your total points by the total possible. The % value will be translated into the official grade according to the schedule below.

 

Decimal Point Grading Scale for INDTT Physics

Percentage Point

 

Percentage Point

Grade Grade

       

86.5 - 87.4  

85.2 – 86.4

83.8 – 85.1

82.5 – 83.7

81.8 – 82.4

81.0 – 81.7

80.3 – 80.9

79.5 – 80.2

78.1 – 79.4

76.6 – 78.0

75.0 - 76.5

74.2 – 74.9

73.4 – 74.1

3.0

2.9

2.8

2.7

2.6

2.5

2.4

2.3

2.2

2.1

2.0

1.9

1.8

       

72.5 – 73.3

71.8 – 72.4

71.1 – 71.7

70.3 – 71.0

69.5 – 70.2

68.5 – 69.4

67.5 – 68.4

66.5 – 67.4

65.5 – 66.4

64.5 – 65.4

63.5 – 64.4

59.5 – 63.2

1.7

1.6

1.5

1.4

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

95.5 – 100

94.5 – 95.4

93.5 - 94.4

92.5 - 93.4

91.8 – 92.4

91.0 – 91.7

90.3 – 90.9

89.5 – 90.2

88.5 – 89.4

87.5 – 88.4

4.0

3.9

3.8

3.7

3.6

3.5

3.4

3.3

3.2

3.1